Judge forces 3 to cooperate in inquiry

LIHUE » The state's investigation of three Kauai vice narcotics officers for theft heated up yesterday in a circuit courtroom, after a judge compelled two of the officers and one officer's wife to cooperate with the investigation.

The three vice officers, Lawrence Stem, Channing Tada and Sgt. Wesley Perreira, have been accused of theft of services for flying to Maui to attend an indoor marijuana training session last September and then not attending the seminar.

The three claim they suffered food poisoning and were unable to attend.

But the attorney general's office said in court documents that they are looking into whether they deliberately missed the conference, thus stealing government funds.

Stem, Perreira and Perreira's wife, Stacy Sibayan, had refused to cooperate with a subpoena prepared by the special investigator on the case, police Lt. Roy Asher.

While the three gave different answers why they would not turn over documents or give statements, including that their lawyer suggested it, Sibayan told Asher "she declined to make a statement and indicated that she had reservations about KPD and trusting anyone in KPD," according to court records.

Sibayan is the KPD's domestic-violence coordinator and was recently married to Perreira.

Their lawyers agreed yesterday to turn over any pertinent information, such as e-mail, cell phone records or anything else that may help Asher's case.

Despite the court proceedings, no charges have been filed in this case. After working in the KPD cellblock for about two months, the three officers have been returned to the vice squad.

Waahila state park improvements begin

Construction begins this week on improvements to the Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources has announced.

The park will remain open during work on its parking area, east picnic pavilion, restrooms and west area. Portable toilets will be available during work on the restrooms.

Work by contractor Site Engineering Inc. will cost $160,080 and is expected to be completed by November.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Teen arrested in beating, robbery at McCully park

A 25-year-old man was beaten and robbed by two teenage boys in a McCully park Monday, police said.

The victim heard the boys talking loudly in the park at around 3 a.m. and approached them to see what was happening, police said. The boys allegedly challenged the victim to a fight, but he victim refused.

The boys then assaulted the victim, punching him and kicking him after he fell to the ground, according to police. The boys fled, but police caught one of them, age 16, a short distance away in possession of the victim's cell phone.

Police arrested him for investigation of second-degree robbery.

The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment, while the suspect was taken to the Kapiolani Medical Center for treatment. Police said the suspects do not know each other and may have both been intoxicated when the assault took place.

Witness holds teen auto theft suspect

Police arrested a 15-year-old auto theft suspect after he allegedly told a witness he was pushing a stolen car after it ran out of gas Monday.

Police said the witness saw the boy pushing the vehicle in Kalihi about 8:30 a.m. When the witness approached the vehicle, he saw that the ignition had been tampered with. The boy allegedly told him the car had been stolen. The witness held the boy until officers arrived, police said.

Officers later confirmed that the vehicle had been stolen Feb. 16 from a Nehoa Street address in Makiki. Police arrested the boy for investigation of auto theft and released him pending an investigation.

Police catch driver of stolen motorcycle

Police arrested a 23-year-old man who allegedly tried to run away from officers but got tired and gave up.

Officers saw the man driving a stolen motorcycle on Sunday in Honolulu. He refused to pull over, then stopped the motorcycle and fled on foot, police said.

They caught him after he tired of running, then arrested him for investigation of auto theft.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man identified who died diving into pool

The Medical Examiner's Office has identified the man who died after jumping into a pool from the second floor of a Kaneohe house as Justin B. Truong of Hawaii Kai.

Truong, 19, was at a party at about 1:20 a.m. when he dove into the pool head first, hitting his head on the pool floor, police said. Truong was pulled out of the pool by others who also jumped from the second floor of the house in the 46-300 block of Holopu Place.

EAST OAHU

Victim stops 2 men who crash stolen van

Police arrested two 19-year-old men after they allegedly crashed a stolen van while being chased by a man whose car had just been broken into.

Police said a Kailua man heard his car alarm sound at about 1:15 p.m. Monday as he was sightseeing in East Oahu. When he checked his car, he noticed a window had been broken and several items had been taken.

He began to chase two men he believed had broken into his car, police said.

The men, in the stolen van, crashed into another vehicle near Makapuu and ran off the road, police said. The man and a bystander held the two men until police arrived.

Officers found the Kailua man's property inside the van, as well as a stolen mo-ped and other items, police said.

They arrested both men for investigation of auto theft and second-degree theft.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Fire destroys home in Kau subdivision

Fire destroyed a two-story house in the Green Sands subdivision in Kau on the Big Island on Monday, according to a news release from the Hawaii County Fire Department.

Fire crews were sent to the house on Pua Street at 2:11 p.m. and found the house engulfed in flames. The house collapsed shortly thereafter, according to the release.

No one was home when firefighters arrived. Damage was estimated at $162,000. The cause of the fire was under investigation.